Print-washing machine.



P. w. EMERSON. PRINT WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION TILED APRJO, 1908.

930,654. Patehted Aug. 10,1909.

UNITED PATENT" e FRANK W. EMERSON OEjPROVIDENOE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR' TO EMERSON SUPPLY COMPANY, OF"PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISIEAND A, CORPORATION OF'NEW YORK.

J?RINT,-WASHING" MlAGI-IINEZ Specification of Letters .Patent.

Patent'e'd'Aug, 10, 1.909.

To all? whomit: may. concern."

Be itknownthat I, FRANK EMERSON-1, a:

citizen of the United States, residing atthe:

city of. Providence, in the county-of Providence and State of: Rhodelsland, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements mPrint-Washing Machines, of' which the following is a specification, ref'erence beg hadithereinxt'o the accompanying drawmg. i

This invention: relates toprint washingmachines, and has forits obj ectto provide a simple, practical and efiective device; for was mg prints, the samebeingrnore par-ticularly adapted for .use i in connection with the drafting room of engineers, architects, and the like, for washing thechemicals from sunprints of large size such as blue-prints; blackprints, and the like, taken from tracings, and

the like;

My improved machine isconstructed -of a poly-sided prism; shaped drum or body mounted on a centralshaftito be rotated insuitable bearings sup orted'inaframe: The lower portion of said od y being immersed in a bath of water, or other liquid, retained in av suitable tank for the purpose of-"washing thechemicals from theface of the print as the body is rotatfed therein.

An essential-feature of my constructionis that this body: portionisformed; of a plurality of longitudinally disposed sl'ats around which is tightly stretched a covering of heavy duck on canvas.

Another and-important featureof this constructionis that a: thin plate is provided which is secured to one of said slats and extends the lengthof said body portion, said plate projecting-outward forming'an overanging lip under whichethe end of 'the' print is tucked-tohold the same firmlyinposition and prevent the liquid from; getting under and raising the print from the canvas.

Withthese and other objects inview, the invention consists of cert aininovel features of construction, asiwill'be more-fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawingsgz Figure 1- is a' perspective view showing'the completedevice; Fig. 2- is a central sectional end; view showmg the construction of the body portion and its relation to the frame and bath tank. Fig. is an enlarged view illustrating" theoverhanging lip plate under which the endof theprint is held. Fig". 4C 1 is a detail illustrating'the mannenof securing the crossbars: or slatsto the ends of the spider: arms: of the skeleton: head; Fig. 5- shows a-det ail off'the sprinkler pipe whiclnextends along the drum to throw jets of water onto the print.

Referr-ingtmthe drawings, at 1 -1 are the two end supporting: frames: which may be made in anysuitable-ordesired form-and connected by'means of the rods-2'. Arms 3'-3 eXtendupf-rom the front of either frame the same being adapted to support a. shelf or table 4 on: Whic the roll of printed paper Tmay: be rested while placing-the same in: po-

sition: on: the drum=to be washedr Bearings 5 are also arranged on each of said frames-zfor supporting the rotatable drumor body:v 6. This drum may be=made-inany suitable form orsize, but I preferably construct the same Withskeleton frames or headsfonmed ofa plurality of arms 7-7, the same being I mounted one central shaft 8 =whioh-is adapt ed to be=rotatedin bearings 5 on either end thereof. The outer ends of thesearms 7 are turned inward forming alip, see Fig. 4,- to which'are-secured the slats or crossb ars -1'01 0 by means ofthe screws-4 1 Where the body portionis 'of any considerable'length one or more -of='t=hese skeleton-framesmay be placed between the outers heads in order to support these slats or cross barslOi It has been found by practical experience in-the useof this device that heavy canvas or duck- 1'2 when moistened or wet provides the mosti practical and eifective surface for receiving and retaining the rint. This cover is Very easily applied'by slmply drawing the same tightlyaround the cross bars to which 'it may be tacked, or otherwise secured in-a simpl'e-and effectivemanner, thus forming a many sided drum which is very durable andlight inweight;

A feature of my im roved construction is that a thin narrow p ate 13 has been provided to extend across the length of the drum and is secured to one of the cross bars 10 by means of screws 14, see Fig. 3, or other convenientmeans, the same being adapted to extend forward over the canvas forming a lip under which the end of the print is passed, holding the same down firmly onto the canvas to prevent the water from getting thereunder to raise the same as the drum is revolved. in the bath.

A tank 15, see Fig. 2, is supported in the frames 11 for the purpose of retaining a liquid such as water, or the like, in which the prints may be washed or developed. This tank is provided with inwardly turned lips 1617 at its upper edges on either side for the purpose of preventing the liquid from splashing or spattering when the drum is revolved therein. An inlet pipe 18 is provided to admit water to the tank and a drain pi e 19 is provided for drawing the water from t 1e tank when it is desired to empty the same, or when a fresh supply is required. The surplus may run out through the over-flow pi e 22.

n the operation of my device a small quantity of developing fluid, such as water or the like, may be admitted through the supply pipe 18. The drum, which is made-of any desired size, is rotated by means of the handle 20 until the surface of the canvas is thoroughly wet. The print or roll of paper is placed on the shelf 4in front of the machine and its end tucked under the overhanging lip 13. The drum is then slowly revolved in a direction awayfrom the operator and the print is laid face outward around its angular faces upon the canvas, the wet surface of which causes the aper to cling and adhere closely thereto. As the drum continues to revolve in the same direction the face of the print is carried into the bath, the flat sides of the drum causing the same to strike with some force against the water, which striking effect greatly increases the effectiveness of the washing process and quickly removes the chemicals from the face of the print.

Another advantage in this construction is that these angles on the face of the drum also serve to assist in retaining the print in position thereon, effectually preventing the same from slipping or moving after it has once been laid upon the dampened surface of the canvas. As the edge of the paper is tucked way up in under the overhanging lip said edge is held down close to the canvas and the water is thus effectually prevented from getting in under and raising the same, the overhanging lip serving to assist in shielding said edge from the force of the water while the drum is being rapidly rotated therein.

It is also found in practice by the use of this simple device that it is very convenient to rotate the drum part way to bring up any portion of the print which may have been overexposed, so that a wash, such as potash, or other chemical, may be applied thereto by means of a brush, without the necessity of immersing the whole print in such a bath. This chemical may then be quickly washed off by again rotating the drum.

The print is easily removed from the drum by raising one of its ends and then rotating said drum in the opposite direction.

Another feature of the invention is that a sprinkler pipe 21 may extend along the face of the drum so as to force .a plurality of streams of water, or other developing fluid, onto the print as it is revolved by the drum to assist in washing the same.

My improved print washing machine is very compact and takes up but little room compared to the size of prmts that may be washed thereon, it is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction, effective in its operation, and by its use prints of any character may be quickly washed and cleaned, thus doing away with the old method. of using a cumbersome tank and a hose for running water over the rints.

Having thus descri ed my invention, wh at I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A print washing machine comprising a polygonal drum provided with a body of heavy fabric, and a pa er engaging clip formed of a narrow over anging plate socured at one edge to the periphery of said drum and extending longitudinally thereof, said plate being arranged to prevent liquid from getting beneath the edge of the paper held in position thereby.

2. A print washing machine comprising a drum formed of end heads, longitudinal bars connecting said heads, a covering of heavy fabric for said drum engagin said bars in such manner as to form a po ygonal body, and a paper engaging clip formed of a narrow overhanging plate secured at one ed e to one of said bars and extending throug 1- out the length of the latter, said plate belng arranged to prevent liquid from getting beneath the edge of the paper held in position thereby.

3. A print washing machine comprising a drum formed of spaced apart spiders rovided with radiating arms, longitudinal ars connecting the ends of the corresponding arms of each spider, a flexible body stretched over said bars, and a paper engaging clip formed of a narrow overhanging plate secured at one edge to one of said bars and extending throughout the length of the latter, said plate being arranged to prevent liquid from getting beneath the edge of the paper held in position thereby.

4. In a print Washing machine, the combithe length thereof and arranged to prevent 10 nation With a frame comprising end memliquid from getting beneath the edge of the bers each provided With an arm or extension, pa er held in position thereby.

brace rods connecting said end members, a n testimony whereof I afiix my signature shelf supported by said arms or extensions, inpresence of two Witnesses.

a tank supported by said end members, a FRANK W. EMERSON. drum mounted in said end members, and an Witnesses:

exteriorly arranged securing plate eXtend- HOWARD E. BARLOW,

ing longitudinally of said drum throughout E. I. OGDEN. 

